Power device for road-vehicles.



No. 662,026. Patented Nov. 20, I900. R. B. ROBERTSON. POWER DEVICE FOR ROAD VEHICLES.

(Application filed June 1, 1899.)

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pm by @QAZZQQM llrurso STATES ROBERT E. ROBERTSON, O F TOPEKA, KANSAS.

POWER DEVICE FOR ROAD-VEHICLES.

SPRCIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 662,026, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed June 1. 1899. Serial No. 718,972. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. ROBERTSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- peka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Device for Applying Power toVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a method of applying power to the wheels of vehicles for the purpose of propelling them, and while applicable to all kinds of self-propelled vehicles, is especially adapted to horseless carriages and wagons, a point of considerable advantage possessed by my method over all others being that any ordinary carriage or wagon can be readily converted into a self-propelled vehicle by the addition of the few parts comprising my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation view of an ordinary type of runabout carriage with my propelling device attached. Fig. 2 shows a back end view of the same. Fig. 3 shows the chief elements of my invention and illustrates the method by which I cause rotation.

Referring first to Fig. 3, let a represent an ordinary buggy-wheel, to the spokes of which is fastened, on the inside of the wheel, a concentric track or flange b, on the inner circumference of which rolls the small wheel 0, the lateral faces of which are seen in end view in Fig. 2, being distinguished by the same letters. Now it will be seen that if the small wheel 0 is caused by some method to revolve in the direction of [the curved arrow it will immediately tend to mount the incline of the circular track I) to a position 0, which will shift the center of gravity of the wheels at and c from a normal vertical 6 toward the vertical f, which by a well-known law will roll the Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 and the same letters, the application of this method of propelling to the hind wheels of a carriage will be apparent. In these views, his a platform suspended under the carriage-body at the back end through the ha'ngersj, shaft 1', and small wheels 0 c, the latter resting on and within the circular track I) I), attached to the spokes of both rear wheels, the front end ofplatform h being carried by the support It, attached to the carriage-frame. Rotative power is supplied to this shaft '2' by a motor which when practicable is carried on the shaft itself, as at 0, or the motor may be attached elsewhere to the platform It and its power conveyed to the shaft t' through suitable connecting-rods or gearing. This motor 0 may be of any appropriate device or kindas electric, steam air, or gasolene-the necessary storage battery, boiler, or reservoir being carried either above or below the platform It and here represented at 7'.

To propel the vehicle, it is only necessary to start the motor 0, when its power is transmitted through the wheels 0 in contact with the circular track b, the wheels 0 immediately tending to mount to c, as described in Fig. 3, and compelling the buggy-wheels a to revolve. This mounting of the wheels 0 toward position 0, thereby shifting the center of gravity of pressure forward to c, aids the wheel a-very materially in climbing grades. The carriage is guided by any steerlng device, as through a hand-wheel t and shaft 3, meshing through suitable intermediates to the front axle. I

When the weight of the motor-and machinery is not sufficient in itself to produce the necessary frictional contact between the wheels 0 and their track I), it may be increased by bringing to bear some of the weight of the vehicle-body and its occupant through some such mechanical medium as the lever-arms u '1), shown fulcrumed at w to an attachment of the back axle and carrying the small roller 50, which bears upon the platform h. It will be seen that pressureof the occupants foot upon the arm a will be conveyed through the roller m to the platform h, thereby increasing the friction between the wheels 0 and tracks I), or a similareifect may be more constantly applied by confining the lever-arm u to the vehicle-body itself through the medium of a spring in tension, as at y.

WVhat I claim as new and original, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a self-propelled vehicle a detachable frame or platform suspended beneath the vehicle-body and carrying attached thereto a motor, reservoir; hangers, shaft or shafts, and power-Wheels; said power-wheels bearing directly upon and imparting rotation to the wheels of said vehicle; substantially as shown.

2. In a self-propelled vehicle a detachable, swinging platform or frame hung beneath the vehicle-body and carrying attached thereto a power equipment; said platform being supported at one end by links or roller-bearings 3 ing upon a movable platform beneath the ve hicle-body, the weight end of said lever ris ing above or within the vehicle-body and i being free or attached by spring to the ve hicle-body; substantially as shown.

ROBERT E. ROBERTSON; Witnessesz' V. E. ROUSE, FRANCIS D. PASTORIUS; 

